Land Rover 60th anniversary – cross Australia journey
August 19, 2008 by Paul Maric
Day 3
The third day was quite challenging in terms of the terrain. The sand dunes were big and bumpy, which caused problems for the vehicle towing our trailer. If tyre pressures aren’t set correctly (around 18psi is ideal for sand driving), rough corrugations are made in the sand, making the run up the dune very rough and labouring on the car.
With Land Rover’s entire range of vehicles on offer for the trip, each of us had a chance to sample the respective models throughout a variety of conditions.
The first two days had me in the Range Rover Vogue and Defender. You would never have picked the Vogue’s 2.7-tonne mass. The turbo diesel V8 (TDV8) didn’t have to strain all that much to wrench the luxury 4WD up the dunes. All this while sitting back and relaxing in a set of comfortable -and cooled- pews.
The Vogue used around 17.0-litres/100km on average during the second day. Although it sounds like a lot, most of the time the speeds were less than 40km/h and plenty of revs were required on the run up to and during the dune climb.
The only manual vehicle on the fleet was the Defender. It was certainly a handful in comparison to the others. More turns of the steering wheel, along with managing gears meant that it required a lot more attention.
Most of the time, second gear was ample for dune climbs, but on occasion first gear was needed to power up a dune.
Aside from the Defender, each car was slotted into sand mode via the terrain response system. This mode adjusted traction control settings, while allowing gear retention for optimum torque. The Defender simply needed its centre differential locked. All vehicles remained in high-range while attacking the sand dunes.
After a fairly difficult day of driving, we stopped at a dried lake, around 88km from Purni Bore.
darkwater:
Freelander with its quality advanced 6spd command shift transmission that does 0-100kph in 8.9 seconds (0-60mph 8.4) aswell as being economical on the fuel would have to be the pick. WHereas the rubicon with its 4spd (if your going auto) is a bit sluggish and hard on fuel.
Big Jim:
Smack-on there with transmissions, also rubicons thirst has always been a major consideration. Standing at a pedestrian crossing yesterday a 4-door wrangler drove past (so it’s going to be a 2007 model), not sure if the driver has been servicing it regularly or it’s just been flogged to buggery, but all the wrong noises were coming from the engine bay. Sounded half a dozen rasps heading down a long metal slide. I’m earing on the side of lack of service or as some seem to think that a 4bie is just as cabable on the road as a beamer.
darkwater:
yeah the 3.2L i6 in the freelander is highly rated with good high torque.
“The DEFENDER is the shit when it comes to crossing through and around Aus and for going bush and hardcore offroading.”
^^^by that I mean its good. The 300 tdi equiped DEFENDER Im used to, has a top speed of about 135, that would be my only slight gripe. However its the type of indestructible engine that just keeps on going (a hard 310 000km without a problem). It cruises effortlessly at the speed limit. The new 4 would have to be better.
Big Jim:
If it was just me, myself, and I, a defender would be the only consideration – out asap smack down money for factory fitted modifications. However, I’ve got to tow a family of girls so comfort (road noise, egonomics etc) needs to be considered.
Believe me, I would really love a defender. Pity they don’t provide the swb. Could get that for fun.
Darkwater:
Post how the test driving and eventual purchase goes, Im interested to know. You should be able to talk them down a fair bit.
Big Jim:
Thank you for your interest and advice. I’m looking at a minimum of 6 to 12 month purchase time for either a defender or disco3, so please don’t hang on my post. When it comes around I’ll post on whatever forum associated with this or following articles or even on this site’s car review for the defender or disco3. Either way I’m getting a rattler. Sod a petrol – top end performance but bugger all down low where you need it when you need it for how long you need it.
Darkwater:
With the current new car market conditions- dealers doing alot of heavy discounting, its quite possible to get a big discount on a Discovery 4.0 V6 SE or the TDV6 Auto S.
Edaw: “Enjoy your X-Trail, one of only 2 soft roaders not made for girls.” Do you honestly think girls can’t drive offroad? Or are you saying LR and Nissan made vehicles purely for men?
GT2000: Just because something is popular, doesn’t make it good. Take Top 40 music, AFL, Neighbours for eg… Very popular, doesn’t make them good though.